SARASOTA, Fla. — A hot radio topic in Seattle is whether Ken Griffey Jr. might want to return.

        Griffey isn't ready to join the discussion.

        “I'm not going to say anything,” he said. “Talk to Brian (Goldberg).”

        Here's what Goldberg, Griffey's agent, said: “Junior's where he wants to be. He's in a long-term relationship with the Reds. It's a non-issue.”

        The talk started after Griffey's friend and former teammate, Jay Buhner, brought up the topic on a talk radio show. Buhner said Griffey was willing to return.

        “I talk to Jay every week,” Griffey said. “But we don't talk about baseball. We talk about other things.”

        The Mariners traded Griffey to the Reds after the 1999 season when he made it clear he wasn't going to sign a long-term contract with Seattle. The root of Griffey's desire to go elsewhere was geographic: He wanted to be closer to his offseason home in Orlando, Fla.

        He was asked last week if he regretted coming to Cincinnati for considerably less money than he would have gotten on the open market.

        “No. I get to see my family so much more,” he said. “I know how important it was to me to have my dad there, because I didn't have that growing up.”

        During spring training, Griffey frequently makes the trip from Sarasota to Orlando. He's also able to fly home from Cincinnati for off days during the season.

        ABOONE, LEADOFF MAN: Aaron Boone hit leadoff for the Reds in their 3-1 loss to the Toronto Blue Jays Wednesday. Boone responded with a pair of hits, a run and a stolen base.

        “Now that's a leadoff man,” Boone said. “I get on, steal a base ...”

        But don't look for him to make a permanent move there.

        “It was just to get him another at-bat,” said Bob Boone, the Reds' manager and Aaron's father.

        Aaron hit leadoff his junior year at Southern California, but he doesn't see it as a trend with the Reds.

        “I think it's a safe bet that you won't see it after April,” he said.

        INTERESTING: Craig Dingman, a 28-year-old right-handed reliever, has caught Bob Boone's attention.

        “He's interesting,” Boone said. “He's got pitches to put people away.”

        Dingman pitched one perfect inning Tuesday in his third outing of the spring. He has struck out three in 3 2/3 innings.

        Dingman pitched briefly with the Colorado Rockies last year and with the New York Yankees the year before. The Reds signed him as a minor-league free agent.

        ETHERTON UPDATE: Seth Etherton has not experienced pain since he returned to throwing after straining a lat muscle.

        Etherton, the 25-year-old right-hander, is doing long toss every other day and expects to be able to return to the mound in three or fours days.

        Etherton had arthroscopic shoulder surgery last March. The muscle strain was unrelated to the surgery, and Etherton was throwing 75 pitches off the mound before the setback.

        “I think I should be able to pick it right back up,” he said. “I should be able to throw in a game in 10 days or so. That's my projection.”

        For Etherton to have a chance to make the starting rotation out of camp, he would have to get into the mix by then. That would give him four starts before the Reds break camp.

        Etherton missed all of last season, but he was 5-1 with the Anaheim Angels the year before.

        SILVA UPDATE: Jose Silva, who had elbow surgery Monday, started rehabilitation here Tuesday.

        “I can already move it,” he said of the elbow. “I'm doing some stretching, basic movement. Hopefully, it won't be too long.”

        “He has almost full extension,” medical director Dr. Tim Kremchek said. “We're going to push him really hard.”

        BOHANON UPDATE: Kremchek will do some testing on left-hander Brian Bohanon to try to determine what's causing pain in Bohanon's surgically repaired elbow.

        “We'll know what the next step is in the next few days,” Kremchek said.

        DUNN IN: Adam Dunn struck out twice against Toronto. The first time was on a 3-2 pitch from right-hander Corey Thurman.

        “I'm not ready for 3-2 splitties,” he said. “I'll be ready for those about November.”

        Email jfay@enquirer.com
       

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